Alpha Centauri

Seventeen - Nizami

I knew eating the Earthly "sliders" was a bad idea.

I can only recall swallowing a bite and watching my vision turn black as I spiraled down and down into unconsciousness.

I hear someone distantly calling my name, like it's being shouted through syrup.

I open my eyes to see Julian standing over me, Jaden's body thrown over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. My vision is framed with black. I can't fight it. I'm going out again. I feel Julian heave me onto his other shoulder and take off running. I'm too unaware of time and place to comprehend what's going on until Julian sets me back down moments later and starts shaking me awake.

I try to speak, but Julian has a hand pressed over my mouth. He presses his index finger to his full lips. "This place is crawling with cops. We have to get out of here," he whispers. I lazily glance over at Jaden, who's just beginning to stir.

"What did you do?" I murmur.

"No time to explain. Can you stand?"

I slowly bring myself to my feet, trying not to stagger. Julian helps Jaden up, wrapping an arm around her to keep her upright. She mumbles something I can't understand. The three of us make our way out of the alley.

We emerge on a street behind the restaurant. I hear sirens wailing around the other side.

"Julian, what did you do?" I demand.

"We have to get out here!"

I hear a door swing open behind them. Julian and I whirl around. A few men in matching uniforms file out, looking around. Julian quickly heaves his sister onto his back. "Hold on, Sis."

Julian and I break into a run through the alley.

"There!" one of the officers shouts. "Stop, you're under arrest!"

"Dammit," Julian swears under his breath.

"Julian!"

"Arrest my ass, bastard," Jaden says, her voice still slurred, but it tells me Jaden Everett is back to normal.

"Jaden, can you run?" Julian asks urgently.

"Yeah. Kind of."

"Good enough." Jaden slides off of his back and grabs his arm for a little support. They start to run, but I stop them.

"I am not going anywhere until you tell me what happened in the restaurant," I say, trying my best intense stare.

The three of them are plenty far enough away from the police, but they're quickly closing the distance.

"Okay, fine!" We start to run again and dart into another lot. "The aliens. They found us again," Julian pants. "Nathan's mother. She owns that restaurant. She said she called the police as soon as she got back. She called them when she saw what happened in the restaurant, too."

"What about the aliens?" I control her breathing like I've been trained.

"Dead."

"We needed them to gain information!"

"One told me their leader is in the city."

I huff. "That tells us nothing."

"Can we just focus on getting out of here?" Jaden interrupts, mostly back in shape.

The sound of sirens and shouting gets closer.

"Come on!" Julian urges.

"Where are we going?" Jaden asks, mocking his impatient tone.

"Anywhere. We just need to get away from here."

I scan the area. I spot a ladder extending all the way to the top of a building. Our pursers are nowhere in sight. I motion for the twins to follow me. Jaden leaps for the bottom rung of the rusted old ladder, which is at least six feet off the ground. Jaden is tragically small and obviously weak from being drugged, so I understand her struggle. I follow behind her.

"You know they have tracking dogs, right?" Julian calls from underneath the ladder. "They'll find us in no time."

I'm finally able to lift her feet to the bottom rung. "I highly doubt their ability to detect an alien scent. You didn't leave anything behind, did you?" I hate that I'm panting.

Julian says nothing and grabs the ladder with little effort. He's a whole head taller than I am. I take deep, steady breaths as I climb the ladder.

"Whoa, Nizami, slow down," Julian warns from below.

I dip my head to see my subject, but all I can focus on his how high off the ground I am. I'm not exactly comfortable with it. I grip the ladder tighter and take a shaky breath.

What's this I'm feeling? I've never felt it before, and it worries me, almost more than the fact that I'm much too high off the ground.

"Nizami, what are you doing?" Jaden calls. "We have to go!"

"Are you okay?" Julian asks.

I want to look at him, hoping seeing him would soothe me, but I can't get past the sheer altitude I've gained. The dumpster below seems like a tiny spec. I squeeze my eyes shut. "I'm fine."

"I'm not stupid. You look like you've gone through hell and back."

I want to ignore him and continue climbing, but I'm frozen. Petrified.

I cling to the ladder like my life depends on it—which it probably does—and keep my gaze anywhere but down. I feel the ladder creak and rattle as Julian makes his way up after me. Julian hangs onto the ladder right beside me.

"It's okay. I'm right here. I promise I won't let you fall."

"Julian, I don't require your assistance."

Julian's mouth curls into a smile, one that I fail to read. "Yes, you do. It's okay. I'm kind of afraid of heights, too."

"What do you mean? I am not afraid."

Julian throws his head back and laughs. "You're on Earth now, babe. It's okay to be afraid."